Television antenna



Dec. 27, 1949 M, KAPLAN 2,492,529

TELEVISION ANTENNA Filed April 29, 1949 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR o o 27 36 L- ,7 f I MARVlN KAPLAN 0 BY B E 0 53 A 7'TORNEX 1949 M. KAPLAN 2,492,529

TELEVISION ANTENNA Filed April 29, 1949 2- Sheets-Sh'eet' 2 FIG.I2.

- 1N VEN TOR. MARVIN KAPLAN ATTORNEX Patented Dec. 27, 1949 Marvirr Kaplan, New York; N: Ya, assignor: to. Video Television, .lnc., New York, N: Ya, .a'con pcrationoffNew York Application April-29, 1949; SerialNo. 90,490

This-invention relates to" television antennas;- more. particularly 'to' receiving: antennas having: rig-id dipole. and reflector elements:

It isya' common faultin many antenna constructions' that, due to :insufilcient: rigidity of-theelements; a selectedu orientation cannot be -.main'- tained under strong: wind condi'tions; and this is particularly: true in antennas that are shipped disassembled and requiring on-the-spot attach ments=of the-antenna components. Not onl is there frequently such a lack of sufli'cient rigidity as to adverselyafiect theorientationof the entire antenna assembly; but there also: is' attimes. an unwanted movement between the: two: conductors. inadipole:arrangement-as welt as between the refiectorand 'an-tennazelements:

Itiisaaccordingly within the contemplation of myinvention toxprovide anantenna structure of the class. aboveementioned wherein ;.the. antenna components can be readily assembled: intoa: a

rugged "structure; .the components. being. so" firmly. andzsecurely held that: they will not: back up on otherwise: move.- with respect: to: the. antenna frame; under wind. action. And in this aspect ofimyinvention', it-isran important object to -pro-- an adequately designed; inexpensive; foldable antenna. structure; and; capable: of: beingreadily assembled:;witlr a miriimumrcfz efiortc. It is acacordingly; aneimportant' obj ect "of :my invention .tO'. provideza' collapsible: antenna having: the. advantages; of-:compaotness; rigidityandxeasewf assem=-- bly; And; in". this. aspect. of; my; invention; it is within my contemplation to provide a novel type: of;.springdoclmconstrnctiorrwhich will" :enable the components gto; be ioIdably: swung into; collapsed. position; for: storagex and; shipping: convenience; and .to rbeereadily. unfolded. and'lo cked; rigidl into: an: operatives position; by? aw uick.v manipulative: effort;-

Withthe last-mentioned;objective-sin; ViVlF, I: have; constructed. several forms of foldable. an tennas; according to. the present invention; which: Iiahavesfound-gcould ibe-vassembledr in armatteriof 1 seconds, to produce a rigid antenna structure having;theeadyantasesrandfieatures; herelnahove the following description arecompaetiwhen collapsed; are very eiificientiv when. operativelyi in; stalled; and are simpleiand relativeli: inexpensive. to fabricatez Y 7 Other objects, features and advantages. will ape pear: from the drawings andfithe descniption1hereinaftergiven;

Referringto thesdrawings;

Figure 1' is? a' pl-an vie'wi ofi one form r ofzmy i in:-

- vention shown win: its opentoperativercondition:.

Figure2-is alsideivi'w of Eiguresli Figure 3- is an enlargedsection. of Figure?- 2 takenwsubstantially alongzli'r'relfi-i Figure .4 is a fragmentaryvpla-mviewroffFigu re 32; .the dot;dash linesrshowingfi the element :par

tiallyremoved: from the spring-zloclirmember.

Eigure 5' is'xa seetionzofiFlgnrei l taken: along: line Fae-5 but". showing "the: element 1 im the dot-:- dash positioml,

Figuretfivisxa :plamvi'ew oftlre"frame'lof Figure 11 sh'own'in:itsfolded'condition;

Eigure i7 is a: fragmentary planview'of fa: dipole antenna and? support;-. showing: a modifie-drrforrrr of my inventiom.

Figure;8ris alsectiomof.Figure'fl taken substan tiallyal'ong line -'8-"-'-8 thereof.

Figure: 9 'isr a'= fragmentary" sectional? elevation of: an: element? and supporttherefore in: disas semble'd: relation; illustrating anoth'eri modificattion of: my invention;

Figure 10 is a fragmentaryplamviewlofFi 111:6?9:

Figure? 11. i'sazsectionali elevation. of theaconi ponents otfFigurerQsshowni'n assembledirelatiens Figured-Zzis: ardisassemblediipart 'sectional iplanr view ofi an::.elemen't and support" inxaecordance. with still another 'modiificatiomofrmwsinventionz Figure 13 is an elevation of Figures 12;.and:

Figure-t 14 is: as partisectionah elevation: oft" the assembledcomponents; oi? the device" of Figures Hand 13.;

In the :formz of; invention illustrated: in: F ignresi to 6, am: H-irame estructureiis showm. the-main members ofiwvhichf areethaantennaelemerits: assembly--2flgtheereflector elements: assent.-

lolyv 2i; and. the-across: beam". 22,: the zlatterzbeing-z mounted upon. thee-mast 23:- by, securing; meanse such as thevconven-tional.ll bolt fastener.

The antenna element assemblyflfllcomprises, in" the formillustrated; the :tnbularfelements:25 and-i 2t of 'conducting matenial zsu'ch as an aluminum: alloy, and 'the dielectricisupport' orrblock -2 1' pref-- erably madeeof: as suitable: water resistant mate riai; sncliias ae-Bakeliteeplastie:- Eaclrol' tlie: ele

mentioned: Theseedevices; as: will iappearrfromrfififi ments525iand 2B5isepivotalli mountedfliy rivets fl' and 29 upon the block 21, and rigidly secured thereto by the spring lock members 39 and 3| in a manner to be more clearly hereinafter set forth. The arrangement is hence such that the two elements and 26 are maintained by the spring locks 30 and 3| in substantial longitudinal alignment, thereby constituting a dipole antenna. Similarly, the reflector assembly 2| comprises the preferably'tubular conductors 32 and 33, these being pivotally attached by pivotal rivets 34 and 35 to the metallic support or plate 36. The spring lock members 31 and 38 are adapted to hold the elements 32 and 33 in substantial longitudinal alignment when in their operative positions in the manner illustrated. The dipole antenna 28 and the reflector assembly 2|, when properly secured to the cross beam 22, together constitute the aforesaid H-frame' structure, the reflector elements 32 and 33 being in spaced relation and parallel to the antenna elements 25 and 23.

It is preferred that the inner terminals 39 and 40 of the antenna elements 25 and 26, respectively, be of flattened construction, so as to be able to rest flat against the upper flat surface of the block 21.

The spring locks 30, 3|, 31 and 38 are each of substantially similar construction, each being of substantial channel-like configuration comprising an intermediate wall 4|, legs 42 and 43 at right angles to intermediate wall 4| and extending downwardly therefrom, anchor wall 44 connecting leg 43 and retaining flange 45, and the outwardly extending inclined lip 46 disposed oppositely with respect to anchor wall 44. A rivet 41 extends through the anchor wall 44 and the block 21, (or in the case of the reflector assembly, through the analogous plate 36) A stud 48 extends through the block 21 and through the hole 49 in the intermediate wall 4| of the spring lock member, the wing nut 50 being in threaded engagement with the extending portion of the shank of the stud. Electrically connected to the intermediate wall 4| of the spring lock is the conventional lug 5| which joins the transmission line 52 of the television receiver. The said lug 5| may be of the washer type, whereby the wing nut (or head of the stud) is in pressing engagement therewith to establish a firm contact, and thereby effectan electrical connection with the spring lock and the antenna element operatively in engagement therewith.

As aforesaid, the spring locks 3! and 38 on the reflector assembly are substantially like those on the antenna dipole. However, there obviously is no need for a transmission line at this point, and

hence the employment of a stud and wing nut assembly, such as elements 48 and 58, are dispensed with.

- The proportions of the channel of each spring lock member are such that the element engaged thereby will be completely enveloped and engaged by walls 4|, 42 and 43 and the adjacent support, such as the block 21 or the plate 35. In other words, referring to Figure 3, it will be seen that when the flattened terminal 39 of the antenna element 25 is in operative engagement with the spring lock 39, the intermediate wall 4| and the upper surface of block 21 are in contact with the top and bottom surface of terminal 39, and the vertical walls or legs 42 and 43 are in abutment with the lateral edges of the flattened terminal 39. It is thus apparent that once an element, whether it be an antenna element 25 or 26. or a reflector element such as 32 and 33, is operatively in'place, it will be held by the said legs 42 and 43 against lateral shifting or displacement, and by the wall 4| and the underlying support against vertical displacement. It has been found that the vibrations of the mast due to wind pressure will not adversely affect the rigid connection thus established and, accordingly, the antenna elements and reflectors will maintain their selected orientation and mutual positioning as long as the crossbeam 22 is held in position, the latter being readily accomplished by known conventional attachments. It has also been found that the employment of the spring lock above-described completely eliminates the disadvantages of insecure holding inherent in friction locks, since the legs 42 and 43 provide a positive looking means to prevent displacement.

In its collapsed condition, the antenna elements 25 and 26, and the reflector elements 32 and 33, are disposed substantially parallel to the crossbeam 22, as clearly shown in Figure 6. In this condition, the said elements are substantially normal to the block 2'! and plate 36, respectively, antenna element 25 being adjacent reflector element 32, and antenna element 26 being adjacent reflector element 33. It is apparent that in this form of my invention there are no detached parts. and the only detachable parts are the stud and wing nut elements 48 and 50 associated with the spring locks 39 and 3|.

To install this unit, all that need be done is to swing outwardly the elements 25, 26, 32 and 33 until the transverse slotted portions 53 at the inner ends of the elements come into engagement with the shanks of the coacting studs 48. During such rotative movement of the elements, each inner terminal portion thereof comes into engagement with the inclined entrance wall or lip 46 of the coacting spring lock, producing a yieldable lifting of the entrance portion of the spring lock, the anchorage at 4'! rigidly holding the inner portion of the lock against the underlying support. In other Words, since the entrance portion of each of the spring locks is disposed outwardly with respect to the entire frame assembly, the outwardly extending terminal of each of the elements will, upon being operatively swung into position, produce a lifting of the lip 46, the leg 42 and the outer portion of intermediate wall 4|, due to the cam action of the inclined wall of said lip 46. The entire lock will snap downwardly when the element reaches its operative position with the said slotted portion 53 in engagement with the stud 48. In this position, the elementson the respective supports 21 and 33 are in substantially longitudinal alignment.

It is thus apparent that the entire operation of bringing the components of the antenna frame into operative position is merely a matter of seconds. The attachment of the frame to the mast is a separate operation which can readily be effectuated in well-known and conventional manner.

As aforesaid, when the components are in their final assembled position, the elements are rigidly maintained against displacement by the walls of the spring lock; and this hasbeen accomplished by a simple manual manipulation, without the use of tools or special fastening members. Reliance is not placed solely upon the stud 48 and nut 50 for holding the element in place, particularly in view of the fact that the legs 42 and 43 serve this purpose independently of the said stud and Wing nut.

It is particularly pertinent to note that not only does the spring lock arrangement permit 25 :ready zm oeemerit mi ethe ncomponents; into their k operativeipositionsnand; at (the 'samer-time efiectia --secure;maintenance ofrthese icomponentsiinztheir ifinal positionsehutetheyl also;servecthezpurposezoi apermittingra quickiretractioniof -thesea;e'1ements .and tunderlsurfaces :thereof: s ring ilfiCkS :56.:and 11 51 operatively maintainingthereinvintthe:manner raforesaidmthe :oppositely disposed elements 58 and 59. In this form, the elements are in longitudinal :alignment'Z-bu't Eat -silghtly different levels, and obviously presents.amorecompactar- 520 rangemerit. Here a terminalluglfill'fiorgthetransmission line is shown attached to the pivotal connection 61;.thereby dispensingwith the stud and wing nut assembly above described. It :is .of

course understood, however, thata stud-,and'wing inut may if desired be employed :in the ;manner above-described. y

:A modified form of my invention is disclosediin .Iiigures 9.=t,o 11, wherein a tubular supporteeilvis aused'iniplace of the fiat blockand platei2-1 and .36 ofitheiorm of my inventionabove-described. II-he support 62 is of insulating material wvhen .employed .with antenna elements and f :conducting material when employed with reflectors,

.just as.-i n;the"firstform hereindescribed. 'iItcon- .tains'ian -axial "bore "63 for accommodating the tubular inner terminal such as'6'4 of the antenna element 65, insteadofl-a flattened terminal element. The support 62.11assecured thereto ,the diametral --,rivet shank =66 v.to one "terminal 61 of @which is -.anchored the springclip-fit from which depends the lock pine69-extending through ;the opening 16in support 62. The terminal EH3 of element 'contai-ns-at= itsinner-end the open slots 1| and-spaced inwardly-thereirom the :lock

pin hole :12. Y

In assembling athewelement- 65 :into. the sunp rt 62, the terminal 64 enters the bore 63, a slot 1d either straddling the lock pin 69 or being disposed on one side thereof. In either event, the said lock pin 69 will be urged upwardly when the extremity of terminal 64, or the end 13 of slot 1|, comes into engagement therewith, thereby permitting a further inward movement of the element 65 until it engages the rivet shank 66. A slight turning of element 65 may be necessary to bring slots H into straddling relation with the said shank, whereupon it will be forced therepast into its final position illustrated in Figure 11. In this position, the lock pin 69 has been urged downwardly by spring 68 into the hole 12.

It is apparent that in this manner the element 65 is firmly locked within the support 62, and cannot move either longitudinally or rotatively with respect thereto. The lug 14, connected to the transmission line, is electrically connected to the rivet 66, and thereby establishes an electrical connection with the antenna element directly through the rivet, as well as through the spring clip 68 and the pin 69. It is also apparent that a ready detachment of the element 65 can be effected merely by raising the spring clip 68, which will remove the pin 69 from its engagement with hole 12, and thereby permit a retraction of the element 65.

.ures'zlZ to le-stile support 15 is substantially like support 62 above -mentioned, containingan-axial bore 16.adaptedtoreceivethe cylindrical terminal 1 1 of the-element -1-8. "Tubular support 15 con- .tains a diametral rivet 1:9, to one end 86 -of-which the terminal lug Bl is secured to effect an electrical connection to a transmission line. T-he inner end :of terminal? contains the open opposite bayonet -slots 82,- and' a-diametral--pin 83 upon I him is anchored -the= inwa-r'dly extending "spring lnzassembling this form of my invention, the terminal 11 of elemen-t' 18'is inserted within bore 16 =until the slots 82 engagethe shank of the -rivet'-19. A coritinuedmovementlongitudinally will brin-g the spring 84 into engagement with said shank, -sothat=-when the -bayonet ofi -sets-85 of :slots 82 reach the shank, and the element 18 is "rotated to create an interlocking engagementbetween the shank and the *said bayonet slots, --the spring 84 --wi1l ---yieldably hold the element 11 8 firmly engaged Within the support =15. When such mechanical -attachment is effected, there will also be a firm electrical connection, particularly in-v-iew of =the action'ofsaidspring'84.

It is obvious that the "attachment as well as detachment of=element 1a with respect=to support 15 can be elTectuatedby -a simple manipulative effort without-the use of tools -or"separate fastening elements.

"-Inthe above description;the-inventionihas been disclosed -mere1yby' way of example and .in ,preferred manned; "but obviously many yariations and modificationsymayfbe made'therein which will still "be comprised within .its spirithlt is vto be understoo ther fore that th invention is 'notilimi ny sp cific form .or ,manner of practicing same, except ',i,nsoiiar .as such limitations vare sp c fied in the appended clai -1., In an antenna .eonstruction, a suppoi:t, ,,at least one ri idponductor .element pivotally mounted on the ,support, .and aspiring ,lock

cured to the Support and..releasably1holmn .a rmin l p i of .said.,e1emen in en a men therewith when said elementandsupportarein pr setr e,pqsiti n,.said snringhckhavine a-channel-like body portion, one side of the lock being attached to the support, the opposite side being free whereby it constitutes an entrance side, said channel-like body portion having an intermediate wall spaced from the support and two depending legs at said respective attached and. free sides of the said spring lock, the said intermediate wall being yieldably urged towards the support, the said terminal portion of the element being adapted, upon an operative pivotal movement of the element, to enter said channellike body portion through said entrance side, the distance between said two legs being suificient to accommodate therebetween the said terminal portion when the element and the support are in said preset relative position, the said support and intermediate wall having apertures in registry, and a fastening member extending through said apertures, the said terminal portion of the element having a slotted portion engageable with said fastening member when the terminal portion is operatively disposed within the lock.

2. A dipole antenna in combination with a refiector comprising a cross beam, a support rigidly secured to one end of the crossbeam, a second support rigidly secured to the other end of the cross beam, a rigid conductor element pivotally mounted on the first-named support, a' spring lock secured to the first-named support and releasably holding a terminal portion of the element in engagement therewith when the element and support are in a preset relative position, said sprin lock having a channel-likebody portion, one side of the lock being attached to the support, the opposite side being free whereby it constitutes an entrance side, said channel-like body portion having an intermediate wall spaced from the support and two depending legs at said respective attached and free sides of the said spring lock, the said intermediate wall being yieldably urged towards the support, the said terminal portion of the element bein adapted, upon an operative pivotal movement of the element, to enter said channel-like body portion through said entrance side, the distance between said two legs being suflicient to accommodate therebetween the said terminal portion when the element and the support are in said preset relative position, the said support and intermediate wall having apertures in registry, and a fastening member extending through said apertures, the said terminal portion of the element having a slotted portion engageable with said fastening member when the terminal portion is operatively disposed within the lock, and another spring lock secured to second support and releasably holding a terminal portion of said reflector.

3. In an antenna construction, a fiat support having opposite portions, a pair of rigid conductor elements pivotally mounted on said opposite portions of the support, said elements having flat terminal portions in substantially flush engagement with said support when the elements extend in opposite directions, and spring locks secured to said opposite portions of the support and releasably holding said terminal portions in engagement therewith when the elements and support are in a preset relative position, each of said spring locks having a channel-like body portion, one side of the lock being attached to the support, the opposite side being free whereby it constitutes an entrance side, said channel-like body portion having an intermediate wall spaced from the support and two depending legs at said respective attached and free sides of the said spring 8 lock, the said intermediate wall being yieldably urged towards the support, the said terminal portions of the elements being adapted, upon operative pivotal movement of the elements, to enter such channel-like body portions through such entrance sides, the distance between said two legs being sufficient to accommodate therebetween a terminal portion when the elements and the support are in said preset relative position, the said support and intermediate wall having apertures in registry, and a fastening member extending through said apertures, each of the said terminal portions of the elements having a slotted portion engageable with said fastening member when the terminal portions are operatively disposed Within the locks.

MARVIN KAPLAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 392,224 Reece Nov. 6, 1888 487,544 Simon Dec. 6, 1892 993,015 Bengtsson May 23, 1911 1,006,427 Boraks Oct. 17, 1911 1,234,455 Fox July 24, 1917 1,719,343 Strayer July 2, 1929 1,774,850 Snook Sept. 2, 1930 1,950,251 Kulefsky Mar. 6, 1934 2,204,861 Knapp June 18, 1940 2,259,628 Fener et a1 Oct. 21, 1941 2,299,218 Fener Oct. 20, 1942 2,465,331 Resnick Nov. 22, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 14,080 Great Britain Dec. 7, 1895 495,019 Great Britain Nov. 4, 1938 370,968 Great Britain Apr. 11, 1932 OTHER REFERENCES Hi-Gain Television and F. M. Antenna (Channel Master Co.) received July, 1948-4 pp.

Oak Ridge Antennas, received March 10, 1949, page 4. 

